How Many Colleges Are in the U.S. and How Many Are Online?

The Number of Colleges in the U.S.

Types of colleges in the U.S. include public, private, nonprofit, profit, two-year, and four-year schools. These degree-granting schools follow Title IV guidelines, so you can use your federal financial aid to help pay tuition and fees. Each type of school serves a different demographic and budget because each school varies in how it receives and spends funding depending on its mission and goals. As a result, each offers programs specific to its purpose and student needs.

Number of Public vs. Private Colleges in the U.S.

As of the 2020-21 school year, there were 1,576 public and 2,160 private degree granting colleges and universities in the U.S.

Number of Nonprofit vs. For Profit Colleges in the U.S.

During the same time period, there were 3,154 nonprofit and 582 for profit institutes of higher learning across the country.

There were 2,520 four-year and 1,216 two-year colleges and universities in the U.S. as of the 2020-21 school year.

The Number of Colleges Offering Online Courses and Programs

Out of a total 3,928 postsecondary degree granting institutions offering some level of distance education, there are 422 primarily offering online courses and programs as of Fall 2020. Collectively, these schools serve almost 19 million students at public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit colleges and universities. 

Number of Public vs. Private Online Colleges in the U.S.

1,586 public and 2,342 private colleges and universities offer online courses and degrees.

Number of Nonprofit vs. For Profit Online Colleges in the U.S.

There are 3,224 nonprofit and 704 profit schools in the U.S. where you can earn a degree online or take classes through distance learning. 

Number of Online Degrees Conferred By Level

Schools conferred over 4 million degrees to online students in the 2019-20 school year:

What State Has the Most Colleges?

California had 384 institutes of higher learning in the 2020-2021 school year, the most of any state in the U.S. In fact, the California community college system alone is the largest in the U.S. with 137 campuses serving approximately 2 million students. Including the community college system, there are 150 public, 142 nonprofit, and 92 for-profit colleges and universities throughout the state.

The California Virtual Campus includes 115 community colleges featuring over 10,000 online courses, certificates, and degree programs. Cal State Online includes 23 campuses throughout the state that serve over 481,000 students remotely — you can earn a degree fully online or through a hybrid program where you learn on-campus 50% of the time.  

How To Choose a College

Determine your career goals and the path you'll need to take to achieve them.

Once you decide on a career, find out what your earnings potential may be, the return on investment (ROI), your opportunities for career growth, and how it can be achieved. You can also look up job information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET).

Calculate your budget and how much financial aid you may be eligible to receive.

After you figure out what it takes to meet your career goals, look at your financial situation and consider your budget — this will inform your choice of school and whether you choose public or private and two or four-year. You can also estimate what kind of federal financial aid you may be eligible to receive, and start researching scholarships to potentially help pay for tuition.

Consider whether you want to attend school online or on campus.

If you work full time, juggle multiple responsibilities, or live far from campus, you may want to consider attending online. Online programs offer convenience because classes are often asynchronous, allowing you to participate throughout the week as your schedule allows. However, if you enjoy campus life, actively engaging with your peers, and the structure of a classroom, you may choose to attend on campus.

Think about how quickly you want to graduate.

Once you determine what you'd like to study, you may want to think about how fast you'd like to finish. You may be able to enroll in an accelerated program that can shave up to a couple of years off the time spent in college. Or, you may want to take your time and enjoy breaks between terms by enrolling in a traditional-length degree program.

Verify the school you are interested in is accredited.

Accreditation ensures a school meets high academic quality standards. Always double-check to make sure your school is accredited by an U.S. Department of Education-approved agency and that your program is accredited if applicable. You can also check accreditation status with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Check graduation and retention rates and student reviews.

A school's graduation and retention rates can paint a picture of how well they support students throughout their education and prepare them for careers after graduation — College Scorecard can verify this information. Reviews give more personal and anecdotal insight into the student experience which may also help you choose a school and program.

The type of college you choose depends on several factors, including your educational and career goals, location, how quickly you want to finish, and how much money you have to spend. You can take several steps to ensure you make the right decision.

FAQs About Colleges in the U.S.

Bottom Line

The type of school you choose when considering college can determine how much money you'll pay, which programs you can enroll in, whether classes are delivered online or on campus, and if your peers are achieving similar goals. You can choose from literally thousands of schools across the U.S. that can be accessible, affordable, meet your needs, and shape your future.